Faithfulness- 2

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12

My little friend Paige got a new camera for her birthday.  Her Mum sent me a few of her artistic pictures and this one makes a great visual for my thoughts this week.  Thank you Paige.  A leaf and a stone; two very diverse things in so many ways; one autumn red, one white, one living,(well it was once), and one with no life at all; one soft and pliable and one hard; one smooth, the other with texture.  Both so different, yet together they make a pretty picture. When I was writing "Faithfulness" last week I had further thoughts regarding our giftedness which I wanted to address further....there's always more! 

In first Corinthians 12:4-11 Paul speaks about the different kinds of spiritual gifts that God has given to each on of us, then from verse 12 he goes on to compare them with the various parts of our human body and the different functions they have.  He says that the if the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." He says that it would be very strange indeed if the body only had one part.

A truth Paul addresses here is the importance that we value our uniqueness and not think, or say, that because we don't have a visible function in the body of Christ, (such as an intercessor, or support worker), we are no less important.  Likening it to the body he says in verse 22, "In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary."  (You can think through that example yourself!)

Our challenge is not to compare ourselves with others; either in our spiritual gifts or in our natural talents and work.  In 2 Corinthians 10:12 Paul says that to compare ourselves with others in any way is unwise.   Some translation says 'unspiritual'.  We will never be the same as anyone else, even if we have the same gift.  Why?  Because each of us is unique and will operate in our giftedness in a different way.  That doesn't make us any less or any better than our neighbour.  It means, that God needs us to be as he created us to be and God has put each part just where he wants it. May we be able to say with the psalmist, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14

My job is to remain available and faithful and allow God to use me how and where he wants me... and to joyfully cheer others on in their tasks.  Valuing our own uniqueness is the key to being able to walk through life making the contribution we are created for in the most effective way.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you that I was created for your special purpose.  Help me to not fall into the trap of comparing myself with others, but to faithfully be all that you want me to be.  Amen

Faithfulness

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.  1 Corinthians 4:2

This past week has been a highlight in the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Watching her on various TV broadcasts, especially the flotilla on the Thames River in London, you can see that she was thoroughly enjoying the celebrations.  I couldn't help smiling along with her.

As a young woman, I think on her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth spoke to the Commonwealth countries in a radio broadcast.  She promised that for her whole life, whether it be short or long, she would devote herself to their service.  Just a very few years later she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.  During her 60 years on the throne she has kept her word and been truly devoted and faithful.  As I watched her attend the many different celebrations, I pondered on the fact that she rarely gets a 'day off' or a real holiday.  Her aides say that there is always some business to be done.... and she does it, faithfully.

Observing the Queen and pondering her busy life I had to ask myself afresh about my own faithfulness to the tasks entrusted to me in my life.  The Bible speaks a lot about faithfulness, especially of God who is the Faithful One.  We are His children and He lives in us through the Holy Spirit, so a mark of our lives should be faithfulness. In 1 Corinthians 4:2 the apostle Paul says that it is required that stewards be faithful.  Every one of us is a steward because God has gifted us with gifts according to His own purpose for us. (Ephesians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-10).  We are encouraged to pursue love but also to desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). 

God in his love for his creation has gifted every person born for a purpose; to keep this world operating and in order.  Some have high positions in government, others are carers and still others collectors of trash.  I often thank God for the trash collectors, I value them because they serve in a way that I'm not called to do, but their job fulfils an important need in every community.

As believers God has gifted us in various ways that you can read in the scriptures I've quoted here.There are key positions to build the body of Christ but there are others that minister in different ways. I believe as we are faithful in using our God given gifts that he may well add other gifts to our lives.  There's nothing to say we can only have one gift.  Jesus operated in all the gifts..... faithfully.  He taught about faithfulness in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-29).

The Queen's faithfulness and devotion to her work has been a good reminder to me to examine my own faithfulness to my Master and Lord.  Remember, there will be a celebration waiting for us when our work is complete on earth!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts you have given me, both natural and spiritual.  Help me to remember that they are not for the 'cupboard' but to be used to bring you glory and extend your kingdom.  May I be found to be faithful, always.  Amen 

Usefulness

Those that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:13 & 14

Late one afternoon during our travels in the Bundaberg region of Queensland we came across this old shed in the middle of the sugarcane fields.  It made such an attractive picture in the setting sun that we stopped to snap a memory. 

As I got to thinking about this shed later I mulled over the fact that though it was old and very rustic, it was obviously still useful to the owner who could well have replaced it with a shiny new shed.  If he had done so we would not have stopped to take a photo.  So where did this thought take me?

It is easy for those of us approaching retirement, for some it comes even earlier in life, to begin to feel a bit like a rustic shed and wonder if we will be of continuing use in God's kingdom. This is even more of a question if we have been involved in ministry for some years.  We wonder if there is a place for us in this 'youth-focused' world we live in, and if so, where do we fit? 

One of my favourite scripture passages is the one above.  It has long been my desire to still produce fruit in my old age and obviously that is the expectation of our Father.  To do that we need to be planted in or committed to the house of God....His church.  Even if we are 'rustic' we are still to be useful and even attractive in our rusticity. 

My shed in the cane fields was old, but it had experience and a story or two to tell if it could speak!  Also it was obviously still useful as a shelter or it would have been replaced.  As we grow older we need to remind ourselves that we still have wisdom to share and shelter to offer to those who are on an earlier part of their journey through life.

I think the secret to being useful in old age is to remain available and inviting. Be someone in the body of Christ and in your neighbourhood who is approachable and even attractive, someone who people want to be around.  Then there will be opportunities to offer wisdom and 'shelter' to those who are struggling or questioning in the difficult times of their life.

For those who are still young and vital, remember Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.  He had listened to his teachers in his youth, and then in his old age he offered his wisdom through the book of Proverbs.  Be like Solomon, be ready to seek wisdom from those who've 'been there and done that'.  Learn from their wisdom (which has often been learned from their mistakes), and perhaps you can avoid some pitfalls along the way. 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the encouragement of your word that teaches us that we can always have a place of usefulness in your Kingdom.  Help me fill my place effectively no matter what stage of life I am in.  Amen

Trapped

 But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”  Jeremiah 40:4

Sometimes we can feel trapped; by circumstances, sickness, debt or even a relationship that has turned sour. What we do in those times is crucial to our future as we can see in many of the stories in the Bible. As I have been reading through the book of Jeremiah I wonder how often he felt trapped. He really was a 'prisoner of the Lord' as a prophet who had to bring some very severe warnings to God's people. At times it did get a bit too much and he stopped giving God's message but when he did it burned within him (Jeremiah 20:9); he had to continue to be obedient.

The apostle Paul also spoke of himself as a prisoner of the Lord (2 Timothy 1:8), not free to 'do his own thing' but subject to God's will in all things. If anyone could be justified in questioning God's love and mercy Paul could. He suffered beatings, shipwecks and other hardships (2 Corinthians 6) in his journey with Jesus Christ but he later said that he counted "all things loss for the surpassing knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:8).

When we are truly sold out to God, we can never be truly trapped because we are fully free when we are in His hands.  I urge you to read the story of Jeremiah in the early verses of chapter 40 because it is such a great example of how God looks after his people who are obedient and faithful to His cause.  Jeremiah had prophesied disaster upon the Israelites.  He told them that the Babylonians were coming to take them into exile and the day came when this word was fulfilled.  Jeremiah was found in chains by the Babylonian commander.  Obviously he had heard of Jeremiah's prophecies and advice to God's people.  Here was Jeremiah among all the other prisoners and he was hand-picked from among them and SET FREE.  He was told that he had the freedom of the land, he could do whatever he wished and go wherever he liked.  Not only that the commander gave him provisions and a present!

Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in a spot through no real fault of our own.  In such circumstances it is important to maintain an attitude of trust in our faithful God.  He will free us at the right time.  In the meantime take the opportunity to learn the lessons from the situation and add it to your store of wisdom.  It may be that you get to help someone else through their time of feeling trapped.  As you submit to God in it you will surely grow in grace and in the knowledge of your loving God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father,  when I feel trapped please help me to trust you to bring me through that time and into freedom again.  Help me to gain wisdom and understanding from everything that happens to me so that I can be a help and a blessing to others.  Amen

Purpose

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
Psalm 8:3-4

On our recent visit to the Cosmos Centre in Charleville, Queensland we stood amazed, again, at the incredible expansive wonders of our universe and the minuteness of our world in it all.  As we peered at the incredibly diamond-like Jewel Box star cluster, beheld the shining rings of Saturn, then looked at the craters and 'seas' on the bright, almost full moon, we understood afresh the wonder that the psalmist had when he said,  "What is man that You are mindful of him....?"  That is the question indeed. 

We have pondered that in the days since and remained amazed that our creator God could take such a vital and personal interest in our world which, in the scheme of things is just a speck in the Milky Way Galaxy.   Not only that but the wonder that God should take such a personal interest in each individual upon this planet!  Really we are nothing in the whole scheme of things, yet His word tells us that we are of incredible value to God.

The apostle Peter writes of the temporary nature of this world we live in.  He speaks of a time when our world will pass away - the heavens being on fire and the earth melting with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10).  How amazing that he could write that almost 2000 years ago, when knowledge of the universe was far less developed.  Today we understand that the universe is indeed in constant change, that stars and planets are born and 'die'; and blackholes devour  all that comes into their gravitational pull.  The book of Hebrews tells us that this One who created the universe came in human form to speak to us (Hebrews 1:2); in fact to die for us because we were dead in our sins and he came to bring us life. He did that because   "It is not his desire that any should perish, but that all should come to him and live." (2 Peter 3:9).  We are to live meaningful lives, finding our place and purpose in this world, and living to the glory of God in this short time that we call life.  Are you doing that?

Prayer:  Glorious and awesome Creator and Saviour, help me to begin to grasp again the wonderful truth that I have a place and purpose in your universe TODAY.  Help me to live in a way that will please you and bring fulfilment to me.  Amen

Special thanks to my dear friend Pat Gentry who took this beautiful moon shot from her lakeside home in Texas, USA this week and 'just happened' to email it to me.  You were fulfilling His purpose, Pat!

Rainbows

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

Blue hats, orange and yellow waistcoats with blue trousers and green coats.  Sound good to you?  So beautiful to watch the lovely Rainbow Lorikeets breakfasting on gum flowers in the trees outside my window.  They put a smile to my face and a word of thanks on my lips to our wonderful Creator for the beautiful world He has given us to enjoy.

After days of rain it's so lovely to see some patches of blue sky and sunlight again. One of Colin's favourite sayings is "Into every life a little rain must fall"  .... but 150 mm (6 inches) in 48 hours is inundation in my book! Life can sometimes be like that too.  Things can be going along so nicely, everything under control, until one day "wham, bam" trouble comes and you want to say, "Who let YOU in?"  Unexpectedly you are faced with a whole new set of circumstances you hadn't planned for.  What do you do, where do you go?  David wrote a prayer in such a time.  "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2. Jesus Christ is our Rock, he is the one we can turn to and find comfort, help and strength in the storms of life.  It doesn't mean we won't struggle with emotions that seem to overwhelm us at times and doubts that make us wonder when our faith got up and left.  We would not be human if we didn't have questions and wonder 'why?'. 

There is so much of life that leaves us with unanswered questions at times; these are the times we need to look for the rainbows.  In fact it's often in these times that we see the 'rainbows' more clearly and appreciate things that we take for granted when all is well in our world.

Following the great flood through which God kept Noah and his family I'm sure they must have wondered "How much longer, Lord?" and "Are we going to have to go through this again?"  I know I would have been asking some questions!  God reassured them that he would never again flood the whole earth.  As a sign of his promise he pointed to the rainbow.  Did you notice where it was to be found?  In the clouds!  There is no rainbow without rain and there is no rain without clouds. 

Perhaps you are struggling with some unexpected crisis right now, or you know someone who is.  Can you look for the rainbow in the clouds or help your friend to see one, not so much by offering words which may not really help, but by supportive prayer and loving actions.  There will be a rainbow there somewhere, especially in the promises in God's word.  These times that stretch us also make us grow - in character, strength and faith.  They are the times that give us a story to tell that will encourage others in their trials.  And isn't it a current saying - What doesn't kill us makes us strong!

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help me to find you in the storms of life as well as in the good times.  Help me to embrace the trials and allow them to make me stronger as I grow through them. Amen

Provision - 2

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?  Romans 8:32 NLT

These pelicans know that at 2.30 every afternoon, at a resort near, us a man appears with a bin full of fish bits to feed them.  They start arriving about 1 o'clock and generally disappear as soon as they are fed.   Their mates have a different eating place, they hang out on the local channel where the fishermen clean their catch. These birds are dependant on men providing their food.... and they are never disappointed.

Not many of us are dependant on someone else to feed us (though an increasing number are these days), but at times in life there are other things that we need provision for.  Many are looking for a job, or a house, some would love to have a close friend, someone to care and share life with.  It is too easy to just go ahead and try to provide such things by our own effort, but it's much more exciting (but scary) to pray and ask God to provide for us.

Without thoughtful contemplation of our Bible it is too easy to read many of the stories without imagining them in their real context.  The truth is God doesn't mind putting his people in uncomfortable situations to test their trust of him, our Father, who loves to provide.  God took Israel into the desert and fed them on manna for 40 years. He led Elijah into the wilderness after he had prophesied a drought where, for a time, God had Elijah fed by ravens, morning and night.  When the brook dried up he sent him to a town to be fed by a widow (1 Kings 17). Jesus too demonstrated God's ability to provide for basic needs when he twice fed huge crowds during a time when he relied completely on the hospitality of others for a roof over his head as he travelled the land.

Sometimes we are 'squeezed' and we find ourselves in need.  Those are the times God would like us to trust him and not rush around in a panic trying to work things out for ourselves.  How else is our faith going to develop?  In every area of need I believe that our heavenly Father would like us to come to him and lay our need before him, then trust him to ultimately provide.  At various times during our life we have trusted God to provide funds for travel, a seat on a full aeroplane when none seemed possible, the right car, the right house, and a new job when the other work dropped off and was no longer sufficient to supply our daily needs.  God has often kept us waiting, and sometimes for longer than was comfortable, but he has never failed to provide.

God's ultimate provision is Jesus, the Lamb of God who was given as the perfect sacrifice so that we might have relationship restored with him through forgiveness of our sins.  As Paul said in our verse today, "won't he also give us everything else? "  That is a very good question!

What do you need right now, and have you put that need before God? Or do you think you have to work it out because "you are a big person now" and should be sorting things out for yourself?  You have a Father in heaven who loves you and longs for you to ASK...... but you do have to ask! "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5:14. Won't you allow him to be part of your life in that area of need today?  He longs to provide for you, his child.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for giving us the most precious gift of Jesus Christ, and for the promise that you will provide all that we need if we entrust ourselves to your loving care.  Forgive me for the times I do not trust you enough to share my needs with you. Help me to do that so I can have the joy of sharing with others my own stories of your provision.  Amen